“Just Like Belgium”

Remember Belgium and the Brussels museum Where we piled on the front steps like stray cavaliers Our code of living meant little to others The few francs we saved, bought some cheap souvenirs

I’m half-Irish, half-Dutch, and I was born in Belgium. If I was a dog, I’d be in a hell of a mess! Audrey Hepburn

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal monarchy in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU’s headquarters as well as those of several other major international organisations such as NATO. Belgium covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres (11,787 sq mi), and it has a population of about 11 million people.

Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speakers (about 59%), mostly Flemish, and the French-speakers (about 41%), mostly Walloons, in addition to a small group of German-speakers. Belgium’s two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia.Belgium is modernizing itself and it gives me joy. King Albert II

Historically, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were known as the Low Countries, which used to cover a somewhat larger area than the current Benelux group of states. The region was called Belgica in Latin because of the Roman province Gallia Belgica which covered more or less the same area. From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century, it was a prosperous centre of commerce and culture.

A country like Belgium, or socialist countries in central Europe spend more money on art education than the United States, which is a really puzzling thought. Mikhail Baryshnikov

Despite its political and linguistic divisions, the region corresponding to today’s Belgium has seen the flourishing of major artistic movements that have had tremendous influence on European art and culture. Nowadays, to a certain extent, cultural life is concentrated within each language Community, and a variety of barriers have made a shared cultural sphere less pronounced.

Film-makers in Belgium are seen as arts and crafts makers. It is a small country. There is not really a film industry there at all. Luc Dardenne

I’m a big traveler these days. I was in Hong Kong. I live there. I was just in Belgium with my parents and now I’m on my way to North America. You will find me all over. Jean-Claude Van Damme

Belgian cuisineBrussels waffles, one of many popular varieties of waffle in BelgiumMany highly ranked Belgian restaurants can be found in the most influential restaurant guides, such as the Michelin Guide.

Belgium is famous for beer, chocolate, waffles and french fries with mayonnaise. Contrary to their name, french fries are claimed to have originated in Belgium, although their exact place of origin is uncertain. The national dishes are “steak and fries with salad”, and “mussels with fries”.

Brands of Belgian chocolate and pralines, like Côte d’Or, Neuhaus, Leonidas and Godiva are famous, as well as independent producers such as Burie and Del Rey in Antwerp and Mary’s in Brussels. Belgium produces over 1100 varieties of beer.

The Trappist beer of the Abbey of Westvleteren has repeatedly been rated the world’s best beer. The biggest brewer in the world by volume is Anheuser-Busch InBev, based in Leuven.

I think I saw it clearly
but it might have been a dream
I dreamed at last that maybe you’d
outrun your pain the feeling still remains
two sisters in the night
like the feeling of Brussels in the rain

From Hard’N’Heavy to Pound for Pound From Worth the Weight to Speed of Sound Donnington, Wacken, Brugge, in between Still so much left unseen All the songs all the places All the fun in people’s faces To the diehard I’m glad your there If not for you I’d be nowhere

But the red lights where the cat fights make it just like Belgium
See us face down on the floor of another cheap barroom
Streetwalkers sweet talk you out of your spare change
And your sweet madame makes it seem just like Belgium
Just like Belgium